Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Once again, OFCOM proving itself to be nothing more than a sinecure for failed civil servants (and twats).

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/ ... laim-ofcom

GB News will not be investigated by the media regulator after a presenter insisted there was no riot in Belfast last month, despite cars and houses being set alight, attacks on police and families fleeing their homes.

Ofcom received more than 400 complaints following the comments by Bev Turner, presenter of the broadcaster’s Late Show Live, who said there “weren’t riots” and that no houses had been burnt in the violent disorder.

“There was no riot,” she said in a show broadcast hours after the unrest. “There is not a house that has been burnt down. There are no riots.”

When a guest on her show, political commentator Matthew Stadlen, pointed to footage of burning cars and houses, Turner replied she had seen it and it was “not that dramatic”.

Excuse my ignorance, but are Ofcom able to do anything about GeeBees as it's not a news channel?

davidjay wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 11:30 pm Excuse my ignorance, but are Ofcom able to do anything about GeeBees as it's not a news channel?

As it doesn't meet the definition of a news channel, the answer is "no".

So why complain to them?

Boiler wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 5:41 am

davidjay wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 11:30 pm Excuse my ignorance, but are Ofcom able to do anything about GeeBees as it's not a news channel?

As it doesn't meet the definition of a news channel, the answer is "no".

Then I don't understand your previous post.

Oboogie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:35 pm

Boiler wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 5:41 am

davidjay wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 11:30 pm Excuse my ignorance, but are Ofcom able to do anything about GeeBees as it's not a news channel?

As it doesn't meet the definition of a news channel, the answer is "no".

Then I don't understand your previous post.

Just me raging about how it can hide behind definitions of what a "news" programme is and get away with it.

Boiler wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 10:07 pm

Oboogie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:35 pm

Boiler wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 5:41 am

As it doesn't meet the definition of a news channel, the answer is "no".

Then I don't understand your previous post.

Just me raging about how it can hide behind definitions of what a "news" programme is and get away with it.

But your rage appears to be directed at Ofcom for failing to act on something outside their remit, have I misunderstood?

No, you haven't misunderstood.

But it seems I'm not alone, so I'll ask others; what should be done to bring GB News to heel?

Again I don't know the answer, but surely they're subject to the same laws as regards defamation and incitement as other media?

davidjay wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2026 12:37 am Again I don't know the answer, but surely they're subject to the same laws as regards defamation and incitement as other media?

Now, the answer to that is "yes".

Boiler wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 10:29 pm No, you haven't misunderstood.

But it seems I'm not alone, so I'll ask others; what should be done to bring GB News to heel?

Consider that neither BBC nor ITV are "news channels" either.
Both are mixed content channels which include current affairs material among their offerings.

GB News offers barely anything except current affairs - but somehow gets a pass.

As dumb American's often say - "the math ain't mathing".
Or maybe Ofcom's brief needs adjustment.

Indeed. I don't watch much daytime TV but I assume 5 still has a Jeremy Vine/Matthew Wright slot. Just because it is the channel of railway documentaries and inside the supermarket advertainment, doesn't mean they get a free pass.

LBC is on the boundary as to what is acceptable, unbiased news and correspondents with a variery of shock jocks with different opinions. So James O'Brien cancels out Nick Ferrari. This is what GBN would laughably claim is its model because they invite on some left leaning talking head to comment.

Why does "Left in the corner" ring a bell?

Serious news channel...

Oh, of course; this is from the Daily Hate blaming it on "re-wilding".

However, this vanity project of a channel may have something more serious to worry about;

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/ ... ine-farrow

Boiler wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2026 6:12 pm Oh, of course; this is from the Daily Hate blaming it on "re-wilding".

However, this vanity project of a channel may have something more serious to worry about;

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/ ... ine-farrow

Why would they worry? Nothing's ever going to happen to them.

When we were wittering on about the right wanting to burn everything, I thought that that was a euphemism. Apparently not.